Injured, Marcus Smart will not win a 4th “ Hustle Award“, this trophy which rewards the “most combative” player in the NBA, or according to the press release “the one whose impact is not seen in the stats sheet”. The former Celtics leader leaves his place to Alex Caruso, whose warrior qualities have always been praised, whether with the Lakers at the start of his career, and for three years with the Bulls. Which has also caused him some injuries in the past.
Over the past season, the Bulls guard is one of the players who recovers the most loose balls, but also those who contest the most shots. According to stats compiled by the NBA, Alex Caruso is number 1 in the league in deflected balls with almost 4 per game! He also contests about five shots per game. A real poison for attackers, like Patrick Beverley and Marcus Smart, both former winners.
“Hustle Award” winners
2017: Patrick Beverley
2018: Amir Johnson
2019: Marcus Smart
2020: Montrezl Harrell
2021: Thaddeus Young
2022: Marcus Smart
2023: Marcus Smart
2024: Alex Caruso
| Alex Caruso | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | LAL | 37 | 15 | 43.1 | 30.2 | 70.0 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 3.6 |
| 2018-19 | LAL | 25 | 21 | 44.5 | 48.0 | 79.7 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 9.2 |
| 2019-20 | LAL | 64 | 18 | 41.2 | 33.3 | 73.4 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 5.5 |
| 2020-21 | LAL | 58 | 21 | 43.6 | 40.1 | 64.5 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 6.4 |
| 2021-22 | CHI | 41 | 28 | 39.8 | 33.3 | 79.5 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 7.4 |
| 2022-23 | CHI | 67 | 24 | 45.5 | 36.4 | 80.8 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 5.6 |
| 2023-24 | CHI | 71 | 29 | 46.8 | 40.8 | 76.0 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 10.1 |
| Total | 363 | 23 | 44.0 | 38.0 | 75.1 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 6.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
